Airplane scaffold



1944- R. BAILEY ET AL 2,354,905

AIRPLANE SCAFFOLD Filed Dec. 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R115 554; 45/9/45); 4. ERDY J. #:wwsss g 1944- R. L. BAILEY ETAL AIRPLANE SCAFFOLD2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1941 all/LE Will Patented Aug. 1, 1944UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AIRPLANE SGAFFOLD Russell L. Bailey,Washington, D. 0., and Leroy J. Hennessy, Baltimore, Md.

Application December 16, 1941, Serial No. 423,234

3 Claims.

This invention relates to scaffolds, and is particularly directed toscaffolds for use in repairing airplanes.

Airplanes, depending upon the make, style and size must be servicedafter a number of hours in the air. The motor must be tuned, adjustedand repaired ever so often in order to insure safe flying for the pilot,occupants and the airplane. Normally, the repair work is done on theairplane when the airplane is in a hangar, where cranes, pulleys, ropes,etc., are available. When a well equipped hangar is available for theservicing of an airplane, a scaffold is of little importance except tosupply fuel thereto, and in the latter instance, any type of scalfoldwhich has suflicient height will suflice for the job. However,

as more and more commercial and private planes come into service,experience has shown that hangar space for the maintenance and repair ofairplanes has become increasingly scarce. Also, and of more importance,the maintenance and repair of airplanes in modern warfare is a majorproblem. In regularly established air bases, hangars have been built toaccommodate the normal number of airplanes which are to be establishedat the base. These hangars also are supplied with all necessaryequipment so that repair- ,men may properly service the airplanes. But,in

warfare, it often becomes necessary or advisable to set up advance basesfor airplanes, and it is a very difficult problem to erect properhangars to service and repair airplanes within a short time, and in someinstances, it is utterly impossible. It is under the latter conditionsthat the present invention is particularly useful, although it will berecognized by those familiar with the repair problem of airplanes thatthe invention 'will be of'great value in many other circumstances.

The scail'old which is the subject-matter of this invention is light inweight and easily taken apart and put together, and the same is soarranged that it may be taken apart and carried in the airplane asnecessary equipment therefor. If and when the occasion demands, theparts of the scaffold may be removed from the plane and easily assembledso that mechanics may service and/or repair the motors of the airplane.While other types of scaffolds have been devised which may be carried bythe airplane in disassembled condition, and assembled when taken fromthe airplane, nevertheless, the assembled scaflolds have been of littleaid in supporting the mechanics in such a manner that they couldefliciently service and repair the airplane.

This scaffold is such that workmen repairing an airplane motor may besupported in front of the propeller, in front of the motor, behind thepropeller and on each side of the motor. Also, the scaffold isconstructed so that the mechanics may turn the propeller while workingon the motor to thus turn the motor over for adjustment and repair, andthe scaffold will in no way interfere with the propeller. Also, airplanemotors and propellers are extremely heavy, and if either areparticularly damaged, it may become necessary to remove either or bothfrom the airplane for more extensive repair on the ground, or forsubstitution. In such event, the scaifold which forms the subject-matterof this invention will function to lower the motor or propeller or partsthereof safely to the ground.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an airplanework scaffold which may be carried in the airplane in disassembledcondition,

' removed from the airplane and assembled quickly and easily, andwherein the assembled scaffold will enable workmen to eilicientlyservice and repair the motor of the airplane.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airplane work scafioldwhich will support the workmen in front of the propeller and motor,behind the propeller and on each side of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to support workmen in such a mannerthat they may work on the motor of the airplane and revolve thepropeller without interference from the scaffold.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold wherein thepropeller may be supported, so that the propeller may be removed fromthe airplane, parts of the scaflfold functioning as a Jack for thepropeller in such circumstances.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold whereinworkmen may be properly positioned about the motor, and which alsofunctions to lower heavy parts of the airplane such as the motor,propeller, etc. from the airplane to the ground, and to raisereplacement parts from the ground to the proper position relative to theairplane.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention embodies thefeature of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willhereinafter be described in detail, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, andset out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the scaflfold;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the scaifold; and

Fla. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Hg. 1.

In Fig. 1 a base frame II has upright munbers secured in any suitablemanner thereto. Cross bars l2, l2 and I! are secured to the uprightmembers I, preferably by means of nuts and bolts. Bracing rods II, l2,l1 and II are secured to the upright members II and cross bars l2 andII, also by means of nuts and bolts. The upright members II arepreferably formed in sections so that additional sections may be addedthereto to obtain the desired height. This may be done in any suitableknown manner.

Secured to the underside of the base I0, wheel supports 20 are providedpreferably at each corner of the scaffold. These wheel supports have theusual axle extending therethrough at the lowermost portion thereof andsuitable wheels 22 are mounted on the axle. Screw threaded shanks 22extend through suitable interiorly screw threaded sockets. Suitablehandles 24 are mounted adjacent the top of the screw threaded shanks 22for rotating said shanks. Spurs 25 are also mounted on the underside ofthebase ll, preferably at each corner thereof. When the scaffold is tobe moved about on the ground rotation of each of the handles 24 willrotate the screw threaded shanks 22 thus lowering the wheels 22 relativeto the base M of the scaffold, so that the spurs 25 will be raised fromthe ground a suitable distance to provide clearance between the spursand the ground. When the scaffold is in the desired position, thehandles 24' may. be rotated in the opposite direction, thus raising thewheels 22 and permitting the spurs 25 to sink in the ground so as toprovide a rigid support for the scaffold. I

The main platform 22 extends from side to side of the scaflold, but doesnot extend all the way across the uppermost cross bar ll so that workmenor mechanics may be supported thereon. It will be noted, however, thatthis main platform 20, while extending'from side to side, does notextend all the way across the upright support, the same only extendingfrom one end midway across the upright support. A second auxiliaryplatform 2| extends parallel to the main platform 20, but in a differentvertical plane than the main platform. Any suitable means may beprovided for vertically raising and lowering the auxiliary platform 2|,although in our preferred form, we accomplish the vertical adjustment ofthe auxiliary platform by screw threaded shanks. This auxiliary platform2| is supported on four screw threaded shanks 32 by means of suitableinternally threaded members 22 The screw threaded shanks 22 aresupported through suitable bearings 24, the bearings 24 in turn beingsupported on the base Ill. Sprocket wheels 25 are fixed to the lowermostportion of the screw threaded shanks 22, so that rotation of either willrotate the other. A beveled gear 22 is secured to one of the screwthreaded shanks 22 for rotation therewith, and a second beveled gear 21is secured to a handle 22, the handle being supported on the undersideof the base III by means of a bearing 22. Upon rotation of the handle22, the beveled gear 21 will rotate, thus causing rotation of thebeveled gear 22, the beveled gear 22 in turn causing rotation of one ofthe screw threaded shanks 22. A suitable sprocket chain 42 extendsaround all of the sprocket wheels 25, so that upon rotation of one ofthe screw threaded shanks 22, the sprocket wheels 25 secured to saidshank will rotate, thus causing each of the other sprocket wheels 2| tobe rotated by means of the sprocket chain 42. As the other sprocketwheels 25 are rotated the screw threaded shanks 22 will also be rotated.Upon rotation of the screw threaded shanks the internally threadedmembers 22 will rise or fall in accordance with the direction ofrotation, thus vertically moving the auxiliary platform 2|.

We have also provided a suitable handle 42 located at the top of one ofthe screw threaded shanks 22, the handle being fixed to said shank. Uponrotation of handle 42, one of said shanks 22 will be rotated, thuscausing rotation of each of the other shanks through the sprocket wheels25 and sprocket chain 40, as above mentioned.

. It will thus be seen from an inspection of Fig. 1

of the drawings that a workman or mechanic may vertically adjust theauxiliary platform while standingeither on the platform or on theground. It will also be noted that the auxiliary platform 2| may beraised to the same height as the main platform 22 so as to be in thesame horizontal plane, or the auxiliary platform 2| may be loweredsubstantially to the ground.

A third platform 42 is secured and supported by the cross bar H, andthis platform also extends from one side to the other side of thescaffold. This platform 42 is rigidly supported on the cross bar It asis the main platform 22, and the platforms 20 and 44 extend in the samehorizontal plane.

A suitable ladder, generally indicated at ill, extends from the basemember I upwardly to the main platform 30, so that workmen may ascendfrom the ground to the top of the scaffold. Suitable handrails generallyindicated at 52 are also provided for the protection of the workmen. Thehandrails, as shown, extend only on the sides of the main platform 20,but it will be understood that they may extend from end to end of theplatform if desired, and that suitable hinged sections of handrail maybe provided at the sides of the auxiliary platform 2|, which sectionsmay be swung out of position when an airplane propeller extends into thewell provided when said auxiliary platform is lowered from thehorizontal plane of the platforms 20 and 44.

- It will be seen from the detailed description given above that theframe work of the scaflold may be easily assembled and knocked down sothat the entire scaffold may be carried in the airplane and quickly putin operative condition after an airplane has reached an advanced base orat any other time when the scaffold is needed. In use, the scaflold iswheeled into position adjacent the nose of an airplane, through themedium of the wheels 22. When the scaffold is properly P sitioned thewheels 22 are retracted so that the scaffold will rest upon the spurs22, thus providing a rigid support for the scaffold. As the auxiliaryplatform 2| is vertically adjustable, the same may be-lowered asuillcient distance so as to accommodate the lower ends of thepropeller. In this manner, the scaffold surrounds the nose of theairship so that workmen may repair and ad- Just the motor. Itwillreadily be seen by an inspection of ig. 1 of the drawings that theworkmen may stand on the main platform 22 and work on the front of themotor, or they may stand on the platform II and work on the motor fromthe rear. In either instance, the auxiliary platform 2| will be loweredso that the propeller may be rotated without any interference from orcontact with any position of the scaffold, while repairing and adjustingthe motor.

Also, in case of severe damage to either the motor or parts thereof, orto the propeller, the auxiliary platform 3| may act as an elevator tolower the damaged part from the airplane to the ground for replacement,and to raise the replacement part from the ground to the nose of theairplane. As an airplane'motor, parts thereof, and/or the propelleroften weighs several tons, it is necessary to provide some mechanicalhoistin device for raising and lowerin these parts. Therefore, thescaffold which forms the subjectmatter of this inventionperforms thetriple function of enabling workmen to work on both sides of thepropeller, and further enables the propeller to be rotated withoutinterference from the scaffold, and still further enables the heavyparts of an airplane to be raised and lowered without additionalhoisting devices. Also, the auxiliary platform may function as a jackfor the propeller when it is desired to remove the same from the airshipbefore lowering the propeller to the ground. y

We claim:

1. An airplane scaffold comprising a substantially rectangularhorizontal base frame; upright supports adjacent the corners of saidbase frame; cross bars connecting the upper ends of said uprightsupports and forming an upper, substanside of the supporting structurefrom a position below the inner end of the main platform to a positionbelow the forward end of the supporting structure; and a third platformmounted on the supporting structure at the front end thereof andextending from side to side of said supporting structure, with the innerend of said third platform terminating at a distance from the inner endof said main platform to provide an unobstructed space above saidauxiliary platform and between said main and third platforms, said thirdplatform being in substantially the same horizontal plane as said mainplatform and above said auxiliary platform, whereby the scaffold may bemoved into a position beneath the front end of an airplane with thethird platform behind the motor and propeller, the auxiliary platform.

below the ends of the propeller, and the main platform in front of thepropeller and motor to permit workmen to work at the rear and front ofthe motor and propeller and to permit the propeller to be revolvedwithout interference from the scaffold.

2. An airplane scaffold as defined in claim 1, including means foradjusting the auxiliary platform to various heights between the levelsof the base frame and main platform to permit rotation above theauxiliary platform of propellers of various lengths without interferencewith the scaffold.

3. An airplane scaffold as defined in claim 1, including means foradjusting the auxiliary platform to various heights between the levelsof the main and third platforms and the level of the base to permitrotation above said auxiliary platform and between the main and thirdplatforms of propellers of various lengths without interference from thescaffold.

RUSSELL L. BAILEY. LEROY J. HENNESSY.

